White Sox sweep Indians with 3-2 victory

Moises Sierra knocks in game-winner in 9th to help club take advantage of strong outing from starter Hector Noesi

May 28, 2014|By Colleen Kane, Tribune reporter

White Sox right fielder Moises Sierra pumped his fist as he ran down the first-base line Wednesday night at U.S. Cellular Field and the mob of teammates enveloping him in celebration after his first major league walk-off hit wasn't far behind.

Sierra's single to right field in the ninth inning off Indians reliever Bryan Shaw drove in the winning run for a 3-2 victory for the Sox's first series sweep of the Indians since May 25-27, 2012.

The two biggest players in the Sox triumph — Sierra and starter Hector Noesi — weren't even with the club to start the season as they were added because of injuries and struggles. The Sox claimed Noesi off waivers from the Rangers on April 25 and Sierra from the Blue Jays on May 3.

"I feel very happy," Sierra said through a team interpreter. "I feel very thankful to God to get the opportunity to contribute to the team and help it win."

Noesi said he told Sierra in the sixth inning, "You gotta do something for me," and he was happy to see Sierra do it three innings later.

The winning run was scored after Tyler Flowers reached base in the ninth on third baseman Mike Aviles' fielding error. Pinch-runner Leury Garcia stole second, advanced to third on Marcus Semien's fly out and then scored on Sierra's only hit of the game.

"To win games, you like to talk about different people every night because it takes the whole roster to do it," Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "With the injuries and things that happened to us early, waiver claims are doing that. … These guys have been a good fit so far."

Noesi pitched his best game since putting on a Sox uniform, but it wasn't enough to earn him his first victory since May 6, 2012, when he was with the Mariners.

Continuing a progression from reliever to starter, Noesi pitched a season-high 71/3 innings, allowing one run on five hits with no walks and five strikeouts. The Sox managed one run in the first seven innings before Noesi was pulled.

"He has gotten a better feel for some different pitches just because now he's going through the lineup a couple of times," Ventura said. "He's able to get a feel for it instead of being in there for an inning. He has progressed fairly well as far as the strength and endurance of being a starter."

Noesi fell into an unexpected duel with Indians rookie left-hander T.J. House, who lasted 61/3 innings, allowing one run on five hits with a walk and eight strikeouts.

The Sox fell behind 1-0 early when Indians designated-hitter Jason Giambi homered to right field in the second inning.

The Sox pulled even in the seventh when Adam Dunn singled, advanced on Alexei Ramirez's single and scored on Semien's single up the middle. In the eighth, the Sox loaded the bases with two walks and a single. Dunn then hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Gordon Beckham.

With a 2-1 lead in the ninth, Sox closer Ronald Belisario took a Michael Brantley single to his side to start, and Brantley reached second when Dunn overthrew the ball past second on a potential double play. With two outs, Belisario intentionally walked Giambi before giving up the tying run on Yan Gomes' single to right-center field.

Belisario blew the save but earned the victory, and he had a big red mark on his side to show for it.

"It was hurting in the beginning when the ball hit me," Belisario said. "But after that, I didn't feel anything."